Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists names new CEO

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) has appointed a new chief executive officer with an extensive track record of executive leadership and team building.

Cheryl Farrow brings more than 20 years of experience in not-for-profit management to OACETT, including governance transformation, amalgamation and credentialing. She began her new role on September 8, 2020.

Farrow’s previous leadership roles include CEO of the Canadian Bar Association, president and CEO of the Supply Chain Management Association, executive director of the Canadian Grocery Human Resource Council, and president of the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation.

She also served on the other side of the boardroom table as chair of the Alliance of Sector Councils and president of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).

She has an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Cheryl to OACETT. Her proven leadership and commitment to success will make our association stronger and benefit our members as we advance the engineering technology profession in Ontario,” says Kim Pickett C.E.T., LET and OACETT president.

Farrow’s immediate priorities include helping to put the association’s new strategic plan into action and connecting with stakeholders, partners and members.

“OACETT has just completed an inspiring new strategic plan, so my focus will be turning that plan into annual operational milestones to demonstrate progress in careers, chapters and communities,” she says.

Given the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, Farrow will also focus in coming weeks on better understanding how members have been affected by the crisis and working closely with staff to provide support to members coping with disruptions in their organizations.

“As the new CEO, I look forward to hearing from OACETT members over the next few months, even if those meetings can’t be in-person in the early days,” she says.

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) is a non-profit, self-governing, professional association of over 25,000 members.

OACETT is Ontario’s independent certifying body for engineering and applied science technicians and technologists and confers the designations C.Tech. (Certified Technician) and C.E.T. (Certified Engineering Technologist).